Spiritual Sacrifices 5

I cannot be held responsible for any mistakes in this article - the final 2 spiritual sacrifices, as I have bad, bad jet lag right now - I am trying to stay awake until bed time...

The Sacrifice Of Doing Good/Sharing—Heb. 13:16. The King James Bible puts this verse like this: But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The Greek word for “share” is Koinonia, which means: “fellowship,” “community,” “fellowship,” “intimacy,” “having all things in common.” The Lord sees our love for one another, and our sacrificial sharing as worship. If we love and serve our neighbor, then we are worshiping. As with all sacrifices, we have to participate in “Koinonia” with a pure heart.

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

John Wesley's rule

1703–1791

Take care of one another

Be kind

Cover one another with love

The Sacrifice Of Our Bodies—Rom. 12:1. I placed this sacrifice last as it is a culmination of all the other sacrifices. Every sacrifice involved a death of some sort. With the animal sacrifices, the animals were put to death. With these spiritual sacrifices, it is something of the “self-life” that has to die. Our entire person is put “on the line” with this sacrifice. Yet, we are to be a living sacrifice – all of our life, intellect, moral and physical powers must be offered to the Lord as a holy or unblemished sacrifice. We are truly the living dead! This verse describes such a sacrifice as our reasonable worship. In other words, this is good worship—there is nothing more reasonable than the sacrifice of ourselves for the Lord. Now we say with Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Gal. 2:20

Human things must be known to be loved

Divine things must be loved to be known

• Sacrifices were made at a physical altar – now the altar is everywhere in our hearts

• Sacrifices were made of other bodies (animals) – now it is our bodies

• Sacrifices were dead – we come as living sacrifices

• Sacrifices (animals) did not offer themselves freely –we, like Christ must come as a willing sacrifice. We offer ourselves.

7 Spiritual Sacrifices Part 1: HERE

The Sacrifice Of Praise - 8 Things

Hebrews 13:15 gives us 8 key statements on the sacrifice of Praise. This is the only time in the New testament that the Greek word for "praise" (ainesis) is used - this is a very special verse:

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,

That is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times

offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,

which is the fruit of lips that thankfully

acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified)

1. Our praises begin in the Lord.

2. Our praises need to come from us at all times - continually. There is nothing worthy of stopping the flow of praise in our lives.

3. Our praises must be directed towards God. There is nothing else in heaven or earth more worthy of praise than Him.

4. Our praises are an expression of our sacrifice - it is easy to praise the Lord when everything is going well in our lives. Sometimes, however, it is hard work to minister love and gratitude to Him. By definition, a sacrifice requires death. In our case there is a dying to self that must accompany our praises. Always remember - for most sacrifices in the Old Testament, the lamb was required to die for the shepherd. However, our Shepherd became a lamb and died for the sheep. This makes our death to self an act of imitation... all-the-while we must know that the power and sting of death has been broken.

5. Our praises must come from our lips. Some people insist that they praise God silently and don't need to sing or praise God out loud. Not according to this verse! It is very possible to use all of our being to minister praise to the Lord...in this passage, however, we are called upon to use our lips. It is good to do so. Sing, shout, whisper, pray, praise!

6. Our praises are like fruit - there is a definite purpose in praise: like fruit praise nourishes others; like fruit, praise will grow; like fruit, praise is capable of reproducing itself. Notice that this fruit is not a result of anything we do - rather it is a result of growth in our lives. If you are not growing and maturing, you will have little to offer to the Lord in praise. Only living things can produce fruit.

7. Our praises involve giving thanks and glory to God. If you have trouble knowing what to say to the Lord - just begin here. Thanksgiving will move you closer to Him - then you will see His glory and become enthralled!

8. Our praises will be filled and preoccupied with His name. His name is not like any other name. His character and deeds are found in His name. Speak His name today and meditate on who He is and what He has done. Maybe you can begin here:

Gen. 17:1-2 He is Jehovah-El Sahddai - our Eternal Supplier

Gen. 22:14 He is Jehovah-Jireh - our Eternal Provider

Ex. 15:22-26 He is Jehovah-Rapha - our Eternal Healer

Ex. 17:15-16 He is Jehovah-Nissi - our Eternal Banner of victory

Ex, 31:13 He is Jehovah-M'Kadesh - our Eternal Sanctifier

Jud. 6:23-24 He is Jehovah-Shalom - our eternal Peace

Jer. 23:5-6 He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu - our Eternal Righteousness

Ps. 23 He is Jehovah Rohi - our Eternal Shepherd

Ez. 48:35 He is Jehovah Shammah - our Eternal God who is there and present with us